Paper feed for typewriter billing machines



Jan. 21, 1936. J Q SHERMAN 2,028,357

PAPER FEED FOR TYPEWRITER BILLING MACHINES Filed Dec. 21, 1931 ATTORN EY Patented Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER FEED FOR TYPEW RITER BILLING MACHINES This invention relates to manifolding' writing machines, and more particularly to means for aligning and registering superposed webs of record material as successive portions of the webs are fed through the writing machine.

The present invention is illustrated as applied to a well known form of typewriter or billing machine as heretofore constructed, wherein a feeding bar to which the strips are attached is progressively advanced through a step by step movement by intermittently operated pawl and ratchet mechanism to draw the record strips past the writing position. In such construction it has been customary to clamp the ends of the initially registering record strips to the movable feeding bar. While theoretically strips so gripped and firmly held during successive feeding movements should maintain their registry, it is foundin practice that such is not the case. Due to slight irregularities in printing, variations in stretch of the paper strips, slight slippage and other irregularities which are'cumulative in effect after feeding a number of successive lengths of record strips, lack of registration to a marked degree occurs which has rendered such strip feeding mechanism impractical and inoperative.

The present invention pertains to means for rendering such traveling bar feeding mechanism accurately operative by providing for loosely feeding the strips and automatically effecting relative readjustment of the strips to insure accurate registration at each successive operation. This is effected by means of studs or hooks upon the traveling feed bar engageable'in registering holes in the loosely held superposed strips, which holes are punched in definite relation with the cor- The object of the invention is to simplify and improve the means and mode of operation of such traveling bar feeding mechanism heretofore used, whereby it will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more eflicient in use, automatic in operation, capable of accurately maintaining registry and alinement of theprinted forms upon different strips and unlikely to'get out i of order.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved feeding and gaging means for the strips by which they may be quickly and accurately registered preparatory to each writing operation without special or careful attention upon the part of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to insure accurate registration of succeeding printed forms regardless of the manner in which the strips are folded, rolled or the method of supply from which the forms are drawn.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view, as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described'and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawing wherein is illustrated the preferred but obviously not the only form of embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a billing typewriter to which the present invention has been applied. Fig. 2 isa per-. spective view of the traveling feed bar and strip retainer removed from the machine with portions of superposed webs engaged thereon. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the traveling feed bar. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the feed bar. Fig. 5 is adetail view of a portion of a record strip perforated for use in'the present feeding mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the ratchet spacer mechanism.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, l is a typewriter of ordinary construction upon which is mounted the billing attachment-comprising a platen cylinder 2 which may be either revoluble or stationary from which project upwardly and rearwardly frame arms 3-3 interconnected by a transverse rod 4 and subject to oscillation in a fore and aft direction by a series of. levers and links 5, 6 and I under influence of a manually operable spacing lever 8. Upon the rear side of each arm 3 is a series of ratchet teeth 9 and in parallel spaced relationtherewith a series of rack teeth l0 engaged by a gear pinion ll carried at the end of a traveling feed bar l2. The traveling feed bar also carries a pawl I3 engaging with the ratchet teeth 9 to retain the bar in its elevated position. Intermediate the ratchet teeth 9 and rack teeth I0 is a relatively movable ratchet bar M with which engages a 'pawl l5 also carried by the traveling feedbar l2. The to and fro rocking motion of the frame under influence of the spacer lever 8 and intermediate lever and link system 5, 6 and 1 effects a differential movement of the frame arm and the rack bar I4 by which motion is transmitted through the pawl l5 to the traveling feed bar to effect an advance movement thereof of predetermined extent. In lieu of the usual interleaved transfer sheets, ribbons [6 of carbon or transfer material are progressively fed around guides l8 and between the record strips at the writing position. As the writing of each record is completed, the feeding bar is released and descends for reengagement with the strips at the ends of the succeeding forms and the written forms are torn off. ,As thus far described the construction is that of a typical billing typewriter heretofore employed and which forms no part per se of the present invention.

Whereas heretofore the superposed record strips l9 have been fixedly clamped to the traveling feed bar 12 and hence held against relativeadjustment, the difiiculties of registration and alinement before referred to have been overcome in the present construction by providing hooks 20 upon the traveling feed bar l2 which engages in holes 2| in the record strips l9. These holes 2| are positioned at the advance ends of successive printed forms and in definite relation with the corresponding forms. By hanging the strips upon the hooks preparatory to each writing operation, the hooks serve as gages against which the sides of the holes are registered by the initial pulling action of the feed bar 12 upon the superposed strips which are loose for relative adjustment. Thus regardless of the relative spacing of the printed forms, the stretching of the paper or other irregularities, the forms to be written upon are accurately registered with each other due to the registration of the holes 2| which as before stated are accurately and definitely positioned relative to the corresponding printed form. The initial pulling tension of the feed bar hooks will be unequal upon the strips pulling first the shorter or more retracted strip or strips until the holes 2| are accurately registered by the relative adjustment of the strips under such initially unequal pulling infiuence, and thereafter the strips will be advanced in unison.

To prevent accidental disengagement of the strips from the feed bar, a retainer bar 22 is provided, which is pivoted in supporting arms 23 projecting from the feed bar I2, and oscillated out of retaining position by means of the crank handle 24 against the tension of a retracting spring 25. The retainer bar 22 is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with holes 26 registering with the strip engaging hooks which project loosely thereintowhen the retainer is in its normal position. The retainer bar merely forms a stop toprevent disengagement of the strips from the hooks without, however, exerting any pressure thereon suflicient to prevent their relative movement into -registry.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involvedor sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

of studs for engaging record material, and a retainer terminating in a pair of brackets, said retainer being shorter than the feed bar but similar thereto, the brackets of the retainer being pivotally attachedito the brackets of said feed bar.

2. In a writing machine, a feed bar terminating in a pair of brackets extending at right angles thereto, a pair of studs carried by said feed bar for engaging record material, and a retainer bar having holes registering withthe studs for retaining the record material in position, said retainer bar terminating in a pair of brackets and extending in the same direction as the brackets on the feed bar, eans carried by the brackets of one of the b s for pivotally supporting the brackets of the other bar, said means being adjustable so as to permit the separation of the bars to permit the removal of the record material from Y the studs.

JOHN Q. SHERMAN. 

